WSC’s Best and Worst of 2013

Best ~ Ecuador’s qualification for the World Cup. They are a close knit group and the sudden, tragic death of 27-year-old striker Christian Benítez deeply affected each and every one of them. To come back after that and secure the points they needed to qualify was a testament to their strength and resolve, and a fitting tribute to their deceased team-mate. Nick Dorrington

Worst ~ Almost everything to do with FIFA and future World Cups; the continuing regulatory ineptitude at home that allowed Coventry to be relocated from their home city and to emerge from administration in the hands of the same untrustworthy hedge fund that took them into it; the rebranding delusions at Hull and Cardiff (and, in the latter case, fans’ acquiescence in same). Just another normal year, then. Tom Davies

Best ~ The League Cup final. Bradford’s run was fantastic but the final was also a great opportunity to celebrate Swansea’s reinvention as a (partially) fan-run club that go about their business in an entirely admirable way. See also: Wigan’s fans enjoying winning the FA Cup so much that they weren’t really that bothered about being relegated. Tom Lines

Worst ~ The grim inevitability of the Vincent Tan situation and a similar thing happening at Hull. It was never going to be just about the shirts at Cardiff, and Hull fans’ response to their proposed rebranding does seem to show that lessons have been learned. But to see Cardiff in red celebrating promotion to the Premier League was a pretty sad sight. James de Mellow